Yes the biggest free car park on the seafront is the Multi Storey Car Park on Brighton Marina. Offer over 1500 spaces you can park for free up to 4 hour. There is also high restriction up to 1.95m (6 feet 5 inches). And the postode to get you there: BN2 5WA (if you don’t know where Brighton Marina is). There is always lots of space even on Saturday or Sunday and I don’t think it was ever completely full.

The second one on Brighton Marina is the carpark next to Asda Superstore. This one is without high restrictions but the free parking is one hour shorter (up to 3 hours). Don’t try to stretch it! There is cameras checking your time right on the entrance/exit.

I know, Brighton Marina isn’t right next to Brighton centre but once you park there, hop along the coast on the cheap but fun Volks Railway. If you have kids with you they’ll gonna love it! Be careful because you’ll be passing the Peter Pan’s Playground and the Crazy Golf and you may never make it to the Brighton, especially with very young kids 🙂

One more place to park near the seafront for free is in Hove. West Hove actually. Once you are driving along the seafront (Kingsway) you’ll see the Lagoon on the left (right on the traffic lights) and three more roads on your right and you are free to park on the roads around as long as you need. You are looking for: Roman Road, Brittany Road, Derek Avenue… Postcodes: BN3 4LD, BN3 4PF, BN3 4PG

This one is much further from Brighton Centre but you have nice stroll the seafront with many shops and restaurants on the way.

More free on street parking in Brighton

If you don’t mind to be parking a bit further from the seafront but close to the Brighton town centre, your answer is Hanover. There is so many streets and all with our favourite kind of parking. The FREE one 🙂 It’s about 15 minutes walking distance to the City Centre and 20 minutes to the Brighton beach. Not bad, considering you don’t have to pay for the parking. It always take couple of minutes looking for an empty space but it’s possible. I’m always going to Elm Grove, postcode BN2 3ES and pick randomly any street on my left or even right. One more postcode BN2 3LJ is for Hartington Road which is just couple more minutes further with less traffic and usually more empty spaces for parking, especially Sundays. I’m usually not willing to park right on Elm Grove or on Hartington Road as both is full of traffic and you can spend much more time looking for a nice free spot compare to the side streets. If 15/20 minutes walk isn’t the best option, you can always use one of many buses taking you straight to the Brighton city centre. From Elm Grove alone there is at least 5 different buses (21, 22, 23, 74, 94) that will end up next to Churchill Square or on the Queens Road (the one going from the train station to the seafront). Or you can walk down the Elm Grove to Lewes Road and you’ll have more buses (23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 37, 48, 49, 78, 74), going down to the city centre every couple of minutes.

If you are planning to stay in Hove, instead of Brighton (yes, another secret, seafront in Hove is quieter much more nicer than the one in Brighton) you have two or three spots you can park for free. The first one is Sackville Trading Estate (postal code: BN3 7AN) where is free parking without any time or high restrictions.

The second one would be on street parking just few yards from the Sackville Estate: Orchard Road, Orchard Gardens and Orchard Avenue with postcode BN3 7BG.

And the last one in Hove from me is Amherst Crescent and the streets next to it. The poscode is BN3 7ER.

There is much more places to park for free and usually the further from the seafront you going the more you’ll find. The main question here is: “How far is still close?” That’s the reason why I tried to show you the closest ones I know about.

Park & Ride in Brighton

There is one more (the official version) of this free Brighton parking adventure and that’s Park & Ride. The reason I didn’t mention this one right on the beginning is, don’t expect Canterbury sort of Park & Ride. This one is not so popular because it’s just too far. Yes you’ll get free parking with no restriction in time except “No overnight parking”. There is also hight restriction of 2 meters (6 and a half feet) as in most of multi storey car parks. The worst part? It takes about 30 minutes on the bus to get down to Brighton! I know I can’t complain if there is something free but this one is just too far. Anyway, if you are planning to use this official road set your SatNav to BN1 5JD. The bus number you’re after, once you parked your car is number 27 and it will take you to the City Centre in about 30 minutes as I said before. You are after those stops:

Clock Tower in Queen’s Road for Churchill Square and High street shopping

That’s it. I can write about free parking in Brighton or Hove forever, the thing is, you need only one parking space and I believe you already found it anyway. Don’t forget to spend the saved money in the local shops 🙂 Simply get the snacks or frizzy drinks there and you’ll end up with helping the local businesses with money you just saved on the parking and saving again as the snacks will be probably more expensive in City Centre anyway.

Enjoy your stay in Brighton and let us know where did you park for free in Brighton in the comments. If it’s some new place I’m sure everyone will appreciate it.

Hi I live in Hanover, thanks for directing every tourist who reads this page to come and park in the area where the streets are really narrow, honestly it’s such a joy to have cars constantly driving around trying to find a free parking space. It’s as delightful as watching your neighbours house nearly burn down because fire engines can’t get to the burning house because of all the cars parked getting in the way. What makes all of this even more delightful is the fact that only 50% of Hanover residents choose to drive… Yet I know that anyone visiting me in their car will have to park at least two street away from where I live.

Can I ask where the author of this piece lives, just in case we want a day out and free parking…

First things first. I do live in Brighton, parking zone C, pretty close to Hanover. Yes I do pay for parking in my zone. Yes I was 6 months in queue to get the privilege to fork out over £100 every single year. You and most of Hanover residents, on the other hand, decided not to pay a penny. You have your way, why are you complaining?

And guess what, I’m usually parking couple of streets from our flat and I’m not complaining about it. I love to live in Brighton and I’m planning to live here. It means I’m planning to pay for parking and park a couple of blocks away. I don’t care because Brighton is lovely city the way it is. If you don’t like it it’s only your problem and I would suggest, moving elsewhere is one of your options. I hope you’ll find another one.
For example. If what you’re talking about is true and only “50% of Hanover residents choose to drive” go to the Brighton&Hove Council and ask for creating a new parking zone.

Tourist are always welcomed in Brighton, even your cars. Just make sure you pay for the parking. Or not 🙂

Hi Ash,
I’m parking on or near Southall Avenue almost every single day. I’m working in the Uni building across the road (Cocroft) and I would say this is one of the best spots. Especially if you’re coming from London. Driving on the A23 simply turn left onto the A27 and go down from it the first exit (you can do the second too). 10 more minutes of drive on the Lewes Road and you’re there. Once you cross the train bridge you can park anywhere on your left side and come back to Lewes Road to hop on the bus. Have a lovely time in Brighton! And don’t listen people complaining about you parking here, there is only few of them.

Thank you thank you for 3 days free parking after shopping and exploring I returned to my car safe & sound, great advice. No one was bothered about me parking off Elm Grove and as advised the money we saved we spent in your wonderful town.